Vocation Night: A look into monastic life!

One of the hallmarks of priestly formation at Conception is the Benedictine influence not only of professors, formation staff, and spiritual directors, but also the quiet examples of the beautiful vocation to the monastic life that many of the monks impress upon us.  One such example is that of Brother Bernard Montgomery, who currently works as Novice Master for the Abbey, and has served in this capacity for the last 18 years.  Last week, the Vocations Committee here on campus hosted Brother Bernard as a guest speaker, and he offered some insights into the challenges and joys of monastic life.

The source of the greatest challenges, but also the greatest joy for Brother Bernard is life within the community.  He said that because all the monks live so close together, they rub elbows sometimes, so to speak, and challenge each other’s patience.  However, the joys of living with a group of like-minded men are worth the struggle.  Sharing his life with his brother monks, and experiencing them sharing their lives in turn, has made monastic life a very blessed vocation for Brother Bernard.

Finally, despite all that the monks have given up, Brother Bernard said that the spiritual lives of the monks at Conception make life new and exciting each day.  In the work that the monks perform to support our education, we as seminarians see the Benedictine mantra “Ora et Labora” (Prayer and Work) lived out in beautiful rhythm.  Thanks be to God for this incredible witness that plays such a big part in our formation and in the life of the entire Church.  Please pray for an increase of vocations to Conception Abbey, that more men will “incline the ear of their hearts,” as St. Benedict says in his Rule, and hear God calling them to this incredible vocation.